Kenji sat comfortably on the living room couch, a steaming mug of coffee warming his hands, as he finally opened his system interface. The soft glow of the holographic screen illuminated his face, reflecting the quiet anticipation in his eyes, a feeling he hadn't fully indulged in for days.
He hadn't checked it, not properly anyway, in nearly two weeks, not since Erza's sudden and terrifying disappearance. Between the crushing worry over her fate, the brutal, self-imposed battle with the yokai, and the emotional complexities, he hadn't had the time, or frankly, the mental space, to care about stats, loot, or new skills.
His mind had been a maelstrom of guilt, rage, and responsibility. But now? Now, with Erza safely back online and a fragile peace settling over his family life, it was time to see just what kind of damage he'd done during his… emotional spiral, and truly quantify the results of his intense, vengeful crusade on the Vampires in his ID and the Yokais.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, taking a slow sip of his coffee as he scrolled through the interface, his fingers dancing lightly over the holographic controls. "Let's see what we've got. Time to unveil the spoils of war, or rather, the bloody fruits of my relentless training and self-inflicted penance."
The sheer volume of experience points alone made his eyebrows shoot up, a low, impressed whistle escaping his lips. He hadn't realized the full extent of his rampage, a blur of combat fueled by grief and rage.
Low-Class Yokai (x76)= 91,000 EXP, Mid-Class Yokai (x27) = 135,000 EXP, High-Class Yokai (x5) = 75,000 EXP, Boss (Peak High-Class Yokai - Shuten-dōji) =150,000 EXP, Low-Class Vampires (x49) = 73,500 EXP, Mid-Class Vampires (x24) = 168,000 EXP, High-Class Vampire Ancillae (x5) = 125,000 EXP.
Total EXP Gained: 817,500
"Holy crap…" he whistled again, a low, impressed sound. That number was absolutely ridiculous. He hadn't even realized just how many enemies he'd wiped out during his multi-day rampage through the Instant Dungeon and the Kyoto mountains, a relentless slaughter of yokai, vampires.
No wonder he'd felt utterly exhausted, mentally drained. Apparently, he'd been too emotionally strung out, too consumed by guilt and fury, to fully register the sheer scale of his efforts as he went full-on monster slayer, single-handedly clearing out every supernatural being in his path. The effects were terrifying, even to himself, he had leveled up quite a bit.
His current level had skyrocketed. He recalled being somewhere around Level 73 before his self-imposed crusade against yokai in Kyoto. Now? The system proudly displayed: From Level 73… all the way to Level 87.
That was an astonishing +14 levels in less than two weeks of concentrated, almost non-stop effort. Not bad at all, especially considering the conventional wisdom that leveling up at the higher tiers was supposed to be significantly harder, requiring exponentially more experience points and dedication. He leaned back in amazement, feeling a strange mix of pride in his terrifying efficiency and disbelief at the sheer scale of his destruction. His growth rate was truly accelerating, a testament to the system's power and his own adaptability.
But that was just the start. The system continued to display the bounty of his efforts, a veritable treasure trove.
Loot
Gold Coins: 120,000G
A considerable fortune. Calculated at roughly 1,000 yen per gold coin, this amounted to approximately 120 million yen. That was enough money to support his family comfortably, giving them a level of financial security he could only have dreamed of before. Hell, Anastasia could realistically quit her demanding job if he kept this up, and they could live a life of relative leisure. The thought brought a small, genuine smile to his face, imagining her relief and freedom.
Yokai Essences (Low-Grade): x70 (Raw magical energy from slain yokai, typically used as basic crafting components or minor magical fuel for simple enchantments. He could feel faint, lingering malevolence from them, indicating their origin.)
Yokai Cores (Mid-Grade): x25 (More potent magical cores, infused with denser spiritual energy. These would be crucial for higher-tier enchantments, more complex golem construction, or potentially as powerful ingredients for advanced alchemy.)
Yokai Fangs: x5 (Sharp, durable material, often used as components for enhanced weaponry or as key ingredients in specialized potions requiring predatory essence.)
Oni King's Horn (A single, jagged horn, radiating immense dark energy and a faint, lingering scent of ozone and blood. This was a truly powerful artifact, likely infused with Shuten-dōji's raw power, potentially usable as a crafting component for legendary items or a direct power-up.)
Vampire Fangs: x40 (Sharp, hollow, and still dripping with faint traces of ichor, usable in dark rituals or for crafting potent, albeit morally questionable, elixirs.)
Blood Vials: x10 (Small, glass vials filled with potent, dark-red blood, radiating ancient, corrupted power. These were rare and valuable, likely for advanced Hemomancy applications or powerful dark rituals, perhaps even for enhancing other vampires.)
Crimson Ash (x5): (Fine, dark-red dust, the remnants of Elder Vampires, highly sought after for its immense magical potency and rarity.)
His jaw dropped slightly, a genuine expression of awe. That was a serious haul. A very serious haul indeed, far exceeding anything he had previously acquired.
Then came the truly exciting part: the equipment, a comprehensive upgrade to his arsenal.
Bloodmoon Cleaver (Greatsword) – A massive, two-handed sword with a dark, reddish sheen, its blade seeming to absorb the light. Its primary ability drained HP from enemies on hit, converting it directly into health for the wielder, making it an invaluable weapon for prolonged combat scenarios or facing hordes.
Yokai Hide Armor – A set of flexible, dark-leather armor, surprisingly light despite its apparent durability. It granted partial camouflage in darkness, making him blend almost perfectly with shadows, and cast a subtle mind-hex that made the wearer extremely hard to see even when standing directly in front of someone, ideal for stealth and evasion.
Oni King's Club – A massive, spiked club, radiating a malevolent aura.
Meh, its stats were good, but nothing much really.
Vampire Lord's Sanguine Blade (Odachi) – A long, curved Japanese sword, its blade a sinister crimson, almost appearing wet with blood. It steals life force with every strike and stores absorbed blood within its hilt to fuel temporary buffs such as enhanced strength, blinding speed, or rapid regeneration, making him a terrifying, self-sustaining combatant.
Chalice of Stolen Life – A finely wrought silver chalice, its surface adorned with intricate, macabre engravings. This unique item turned stored blood into potent healing potions when consumed, offering an immediate and powerful recovery option in the heat of battle.
Vampire Knight's Claws (Gauntlets) – A pair of wicked-looking gauntlets tipped with razor-sharp, obsidian-like claws. These were a high-critical unarmed weapon, incredibly effective in close combat, allowing for brutal, precise strikes that bypassed conventional defenses.
Boots of the Night Stalker – Lightweight, dark-leather boots, designed for stealth. They silenced footsteps completely and left no magical or physical trace, making silent movement effortless and virtually undetectable, perfect for infiltration or escape.
Vampire Noble's Wine – A small, elegant bottle of dark-red wine, appearing almost black in dim light. This potent elixir fully healed all wounds and restored all mana upon consumption, offering an instant, full recovery.
Wow, this was amazing.
However, it came with a significant drawback, it caused intense blood cravings for 24 hours.
'Yikes,' Kenji thought, a shiver running down his spine. He made a mental note, maybe not use this one unless he had absolutely no other choice. The thought of uncontrollable bloodlust, even temporary, was… profoundly unpleasant and dangerous.
Mask of a Thousand Faces – A featureless, pure white porcelain mask. This incredibly versatile artifact allowed for perfect transformation into any previously slain humanoid enemy, perfectly replicating their appearance, voice, and even subtle mannerisms.
'This was going to be very useful indeed,' Kenji mused, the possibilities endless for espionage, infiltration, or simply blending in. The fact that he had killed a lot of humanoid enemies during his recent rampages already gave him a vast library of options to choose from if he ever wanted to do something that needed another face other than Kenji's.
"That's… actually insane," Kenji said aloud, running a hand through his hair, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and slight apprehension. The sheer utility, power, and diverse applications of these newly acquired items were mind-boggling. He was getting borderline overpowered now, at least compared to what he was just a few weeks ago, a mere speck in the supernatural world. And yet, oddly, it didn't feel like too much.
His enemies were only getting more dangerous, people will tell you that the more powerful you are the less problems you have, while that had some truth it was 100%, really the more powerful you got the more powerful people sort you out and that came with a lot of problem but still it was better than being weak and being caught off guard, and now with Erza back, his sense of urgency had returned, sharp and clear.
He knew he had to keep pushing forward, things were starting to pick up, canon had long started, and it was only his choice to not poke his head into what wasn't his problem, unlike so many other isekai MCs that has kept him from being exposed.
He shook his head, he can understand wanting to be part of the story and all that, wanting your life to feel like it was having meaning or shit like that but most dont think and just jump forward wanting to help rias like she was what there lives revoled around when they didnt even have a relationship with her, jumping in saying things like 'Riser will soon come so i have to help rias' or 'It is my duty to help her' when even the person they reincarnated as didnt even know her.
Well, to each their own, he preferred to be left alone and enjoy what he didn't have in his previous life. A home, a family. People would diss him for that, but it was his own choice, same as those who would wake up as Issei and decide to bang their mothers, or wake up as Sirzechs Lucifer and not mind having Grayfia as a wife, but then complain that while he was here with a woman that wasn't his own in the beginning.
Everything was about choice. His choice. Just as they would choose to stay with Grayfia and raise millicas.
He shook his head and let those thoughts wander away, going back to his rewards.
Then there were the new skills, a truly impressive addition to his growing arsenal, opening up entirely new avenues.
Hemomancy – The control and manipulation of blood, both his own and others'. Creepy? Yes, undoubtedly. Effective? Definitely. The potential applications for both offense, like blood projectiles or controlling opponents through their blood, and defense, like hardening blood into armor or healing his own wounds, were immense, offering a terrifying new dimension to his fighting style.
Soul Chains (Dark Magic) – A powerful dark magic ability that manifested spectral chains capable of binding, suppressing, and even siphoning energy from targets. This would be incredibly useful for subduing powerful foes, disrupting enemy spellcasting, or even draining their strength for his own use.
And he even got Three Skill tickets that he would be saving for now.
He was smiling now, a wide grin that stretched from ear to ear. The haul was truly impressive. He now had the tools to face far greater threats, to protect his family and friends with even more certainty, to truly make a difference in this dangerous world.
And he hadn't even gone through the treasure cache from the destroyed yokai hideout, the remnants of Shuten-dōji's personal hoard, which no doubt contained even more gold and artifacts. That was a task for another day, another burst of energy.
Sighing contentedly, he began sorting his inventory, organizing gear into neat, categorized sections, identifying remaining items, and filtering materials for future crafting or sale. That's when something entirely unexpected caught his attention, sitting innocently in a tab.
It wasn't a sword. Or armor. Or some crazy magic book.
It was… a tail?
Sitting there in his inventory as if it belonged, completely out of place amidst the weapons and potions.
"…What the hell?" Kenji muttered, leaning closer to the holographic display, a sense of confusion and unease beginning to prickle at him.
He summoned it out of his inventory, and it popped out right in front of him, A single, long, fluffy fox tail, its fur a vibrant, almost ethereal white. It was beautiful in a way.
He used [Observe] on it, and the explanation immediately popped up. The moment it did, he nearly had a heart attack, spitting out the last sip of his coffee in pure, unadulterated shock, the mug clattering against the table.
[Item Identified: Tail of Hagoromo Gitsune]
Belonged to an ancient and powerful yokai queen, sealed centuries ago. Contains a fraction of her spiritual power, essential for her resurrection. It was intended to be used for her resurrection ritual by the Flesh Ripper Gang and the cult of Hagoromo Gitsune, who sought to unleash her upon the world.
Emits faint, but distinct, magical energy detectable by strong spiritual beings (e.g., High-Class Devils, Fallen Angels, powerful Yokai, and even some gifted humans like Onmyoji). This signature is unique and widely recognized.
Was in possession of Shuten-dōji before being stolen (by you).
Kenji stared at the screen, heart thumping a frantic rhythm against his ribs, like a drum. The coffee stain on his shirt was the absolute least of his worries now. This wasn't just bad.
"This… this is catastrophically bad," he whispered, the realization hitting him like a physical blow, cold and sharp, paralyzing him for a moment.
Panic surged through him, cold and sharp. If it emitted a detectable magical signature, then people—truly powerful, dangerous people like Yasaka, the head of the Kyoto yokai faction, or even worse, the desperate, vengeful remnants of the so called Hagoromo Gitsune's cult, would come looking for it. And if they traced it back to him? If they found out he had it?
That would be very, very bad. Worse than bad. It would be an absolute nightmare.
He immediately, without a second thought, threw the item back into his inventory. The tail vanished from view. He sighed.
"Curiosity really does kill," he muttered, shaking his head, a wry, humorless chuckle escaping him.
He leaned back into the couch, rubbing his forehead, trying to process this unexpected, terrifying revelation and the danger that he might just have put his family into.
Just finished one battle, now another may come.
His calm, peaceful life, the one he had just begun to have and envision, had just received a massive, unavoidable complication. His peaceful life just got a lot more complicated and perilous.
'Why can't I have some peace'.
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